College basketball is my sport. The Louisville Cardinals are my team. And this is a good year for me.

In a stunning 86-78 victory over second-seeded Tennessee Tuesday, my hometown Louisville women earned a trip to the NCAA women's Final Four. I missed the game, but I did see the No. 5 Cards' Easter take down of top-seeded, defending national champion Baylor. It was a nail biter with the Cards squandering a 20-point lead and hanging on by a point.

My jumping and screaming made my 18-month-old son cry, but it was worth it.

In both games, A Portland star shined bright. Louisville guard Shoni Schimmel is from Mission, Ore., and graduated from Franklin High School. Schimmel scored 24 against Tennessee and 22 against Baylor. Her sister Jude also plays for the Cards.

Wow, I haven't even mentioned the men's team. They have their own Cinderella-at-the-big-dance story in Kevin Ware, the sophomore who snapped his leg in the Cards 86-63 win over Duke. The top-seeded men have dedicated the rest of the tournament to Ware.

Next up for the men is No. 9 Wichita State. They face off at 3 p.m. Saturday. The top-seeded Cards are heavily favored. The Lady Cards are not. They take on No. 2 California in New Orleans on Sunday. I'm not worried. Being the underdog suits the Lady Cards just fine.

It's only the 10th time in NCAA history that a college basketball program has had its men and women's teams make the Final Four in the same season.

Yes. This is definitely a good year for my Cards. But Portland can be proud too.

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